Cotton-chopper.



J. E. WILLIAMS.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLIOATION IILED 001'. 22, 1910.

1,015,369. L Patented Jan.23,1-912.

GRAPH c0, WASHINGTON n c Jim-W the machine.

With the above and other objects in view, '20

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

I ELI WILLIAMS, OF'CLAY, MISSISSIPPI.

CQTTON-CHOPPER.

To all whom it may concern: V

Be it known that 1 JAMES E. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clay, in the county of Itawamba and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new 4 and useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppers, of which the following. is a specification, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings. p

This invention relates to cottonchopping machines and has forits object to provide a very simple and efliclent machlne of thls character which will quickly thin the rows as the machine moves over the field, and meansfor throwing the chopping hoes out of operation when passing over sparsely grown portions of therow the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in 'which Figure 1 1s a side elevation of. a cotton chopplng machine constructed in accordance with my inventlon; Fig. 2 1s a top ,plan' view thereof; and Fig. 3 is on the line 3- 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing 5 designates the parallel longitudinal side bars of the machine frame which are connected at their front and rear ends by the cross bar 6. Suitable handles 7 are also connected to the side bars of the frame and extend upwardly a section taken and rearwardly therefrom into convenient position to be grasped by the operator to guide the machine in its movement. Draft attaching means 8 is connected to. the forward ends of the longitudinal bars 5.

supporting wheels 9 which are fixed on the axle 10 journaled in bearings 11 secured to the under side of the longitudinal. bars 5. Upon the inner face of one of these wheels a crown gear 12 is secured. The hoe shaft 13 is longitudinally disposed andfirotatably mounted in bearings 14 secured to the under sides of the transverse bars 15 which connect the longitudinal frame bars 5 intermediate of their ends. A gear 16 is secured to the forward end of the hoe shaft 13 and meshes and in turning 1 arranged on the carrying the usual spring actuated dog for understood.

Serial No. 588 53 0.

Any"desired number of these hoe blades maybe employed and are preferably adjust able radially from the shaft 13. I

this collar and the bearing 14 on the .rear

transverse bar 15 a ,coiled spring 19 is 'ar'-- ranged onsaid shaft. This spring normally forces the shaft upwardly in its bearings to engage the gears .16 and 12. An arm 19 is. securedto the rear end of the hoe shaft, being-provided, with an opening through which said shaft extends and a nut 20 is threaded ,onsaid shaft to retainthe arm;

shaft 13 between the; transverse bars 15:

A collar 18 is secured upon the shaft 13' adjacent to the chopping hoes and between Specification of Letters Patent. Pafented Jan, 23, App1ication'fi1ed-0ctober 22, 1910 I thereon. -To the armrl9 the lower endof an adjusting lever 21 is connected, said lever being pivoted upon a longitudinal bar v22 frame of the machine'and engagement with the teeth of a rack 23 secured upon said bar,

From the foregoing it will be seen. that when, it is desired to discontinue the cutting operation of the hoe blades, the operator simply moves the lever 21, forwardly which slides thehoe shaft 13 rearwardly in its bearings thus disengaging the gear 16 from the teethrof the crown gear 12 carried by the supporting wheel. cutting operation may be interrupted at any time, as when a' sparsely grown portion of r In this manner the the row is reached, or in turning the machine at the end of the row.

Plows24 are mounted in the forward end 4 of the frame of the machine to move upon opposite sides of the row of plants and throw the dirt outwardly therefrom. Other plows125- are arranged in the rear end of the L .machine-frame and are adapted to direct The machine frame is mounted upon the the dirt inwardly" upon the roots of the plants after the cutting, operation.

From the foregoing it is believed that the I Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

with the teeth of the gear 12 whereby rotary movement is transmitted from Ina cotton chopper, the combination of frame having plows and handles, an axle gitudinally movable shaft having chopping elements, bearings for said longitudinally 'movable shaft, a beveled gear at the front end of said longitudinally movable shaft to engage and disengage that on the axleshaft, a spring acting to normally move the lona gitudinally movable shaft forwardly and tudinally movable shaft being connected to the said lever for rearward movement independently of the lever, and means to lock the lever in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES ELI WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

